Eadwulf had no more intention of dignifying Diego's question with an answer than he cared to keep his secrets, threats or not. But then Diego did something unexpected. He made him an offer.
Although he wasn't fool enough to show it, Eadwulf was confused. Moments before, Diego had been accusing him of breaking in. Now he wanted to help him fix up the place he thought Eadwulf had been robbing?
It must look worse than I thought, Eadwulf thought.
There were benefits to not being born in the lap of luxury - a small house with a thatch roof in the Dwendalian countryside, two women in the window; that was all the comforts of home Eadwulf had ever known. He could make do with very little. He didn't need running water. Or electricity.
But it might be nice to have them.
"I work until midnight," he said without looking at Diego. "But I will be here after. Come examine the plumping then, if you want." He wasn't going to ask or thank him for the offer. Even living in squalor, he had too much pride for that.